Turn banking suspension for vehicles



April 16, 1957 R. o. GlRToN TURN BANKING SUSPENSION' IOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

April 16, 1957 R. o. GIRTON TURN BANKING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 sob Fig 5' Ray O. Grtn April 16, 1957 R o, GIRTQN 2,788,985

TURN BANKING SUSPENS-ION FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 25, 1954 3 Shets-Sheet 3 1N V EN TOR.

5gg Gifton @www United States Patent O TURN BANKING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Ray O. Girton, Salt Lake City, Utah Application August 23, 1954, Serial No. 451,441

Claims. (CI. 280-112) This invention relates to devices for automatically banking a motor vehicle before and or as the vehicle negotiates a turn particulan'zing the rate of speed and the radius with which the turn is being negotiated wherein the center of gravity is restrained from moving away from the line of travel of the vehicle by the body of the vehicle being tilted away from the turn by a force resulting from the momentum of the weight of the body having a tendency to travel straight ahead, this being accomplished in particular by telescoping hydraulic cylinders positioned in the chassis between the axles and the frame of a vehicle with means controlled by the speed of the vehicle and the radius of the turn being negotiated by extending the cylinders on one side of the vehicle and contracting the cylinders on the opposite side whereby the cylinders bank the body of the vehicle in accordance with the turn being made and the speed of the vehicle.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means incorporated in the structure of or added to the structure of a motor vehicle making it adaptable for negotiating turns at greater speeds with greater safety and less danger of over turning.

Numerous accidents occur daily as a result of vehicles endeavorng to negotiate turns at high speed and after a vehicle starts to turn and momentum results in a bad tilt to the outside of the turn it is substantially impossible for an operator to maintain any great degree of control in bringing the vehicle back to a traveling position with regard to the radius of the turn.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a means for keeping the body of the car in a level position while traveling on a high crowned road or in a strong cross wind.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means adapted to be controlled by the speed and turning action'of a traveling vehicle for banking the vehicle or causing the body of the vehicle` to lean toward the inside while making a turn.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically banking or tilting the body of a vehicle toward the inside in making a turnV in which the apparatus is adapted to be installed in vehicles now in use.

Another important object of the invention is to provide banking means adapted to be installed in motor vehicles to facilitate negotiating turns in highways in which the degree of tilt of the body of the vehicle is in proportion to the speed of the vehicle and radius of the turn.

' A further object of the invention is to provide telescoping hydraulic cylinders adapted to be installed between thev axles and chassis of a motor vehicle with means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinders for tilting or banking a vehicle in negotiating a turn in a highway in which pistons in the cylinders are provided with minute oriices so that the cylinders also provide shock absorbers for the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a turn banking suspension for motor vehicles in which the device is adapted to be used on pleasure cars, trucks, and substantially all types of vehicles.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus adapted to be installed on motor vehicles for causing Vehicles to lean toward the inside of a curve to prevent vehicles turning over in which the apparatus is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies telescoping hydraulic cylinders mounted between the chassis and axles and adjacent the Wheels of a vehicle, a pump adapted to be driven by the engine of the vehicle, a valve connected to the pump for controlling the supply and return of tluid between the pump and cylinders, a valve controller in combination with the valve to regulate the valve to compensate for variations in speed and also to correspond with the radius of a curve, a governor for actuating the speed regulating means, and means actuated by the steering wheel of the vehicle also adapted to actuate the valve control means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the general arrangement of the vehicle banking apparatus showing the relative positions of the four telescoping cylinders, pump, valve, valve controller and velocity turn compensator or governor, with typical connections between the parts and with conventional parts of the vehicle, such as the engine, steering wheel and belt connection to the pump, shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a cross section through the valve controller, taken on line 2--2 of Figure l, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale and a typical wiring diagram being shown in combination therewith.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the hydraulic distributing valve taken on line 3?-3 of Figure 1, the parts also being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a velocity compensator or governor, the device being shown on the corner of the engine in Figure l, and the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a typical clamp for attaching sheaths of control wires used in the apparatus to different points of the chassis.

Figure 6 is a detail taken substantially on line 6 6 of Figure 7, showing the connections of the radius of turn apparatus for modifying the action of the velocity compensator.

Figure 7 is a detail taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6, illustrating the electro-magnet controls of the radius of turn apparatus.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through one of the telescoping hydraulic cylinders.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be ultilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary eld of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specitication, the same reference characters are used to ICC designate-the sameparts and ele-ments throughout, and in which the. numeral refers to lthe invention in its entirety, numerals 12, 14, 16, and 18 telescoping hydraulic cylinders mounted between the axles and chassis and positioned inside of the wheels of the vehicle, numeral 20 a pump actuated by the engine 22 of the vehicle, numeral 24a distributing. valve, numeral 26 a valve controller, numerals 28 and 30 toggle switchassemblies for exciting electromagnets. of the valve controller and. adapted to be actuated by turning movements-of the steering `wheel of a .vehicle in` negotiatinga turn, and numeral 32 a velocity compensator or governor by which iiuid` is supplied to the-cylinders on the side of the vehicle on the outside of the curve in proportion tothe speed of the Vehicle.

Fluid .under pressure is supplied tot-thc cylinders by the pump 20 through the valve24, and the pump is driven by the engine with a belt 34 which is trained over n pulley 36 on a shaft 38 of the pump anda pulley 40 on a shaft 42 of the engine. The shaft 42 is also provided with means for driving the generator and waterpump of the engine, as is conventional.

The discharge connection of the pump, which is iudi cated by the numeral 44 is divided into two branches 46 and 48, and the. branches 46 and 48 are connected to openings 50 and :72, respectively, in the end of the. valve housing 54. into branches 58 and 66 and these branches are connected to openings 62 and 64, respectively, in the end of the housing 54.

The housing 54 of the valve 24 and a housing 66 of the valve controller 26 are integrally connected and a shaft 68, which is shown as being square in crossl section, -is rotatably mounted in the housings with a core 70'on a squarev intermediate portion in the housing 54, and an arm 72 on a square intermediate portion in the housing 66. The core 70 is provided with radially disposed arms 74 having enlarged outer. ends 76. which, with the valve in the free position, register with recesses 78 at the inner ends of outlet openings Sli, 82, 84 and S6. Upon rotation of the core 70 in one direction fluid underpressure is supplied to the lower ends of the cylinders on one side of the vehicle to extend the cylinders and fluid is withdrawn from the upper ends of the cylinders. At the ysame time fluid is supplied under pressure to the upper ends of the cylinders on the opposite side of the vehicle to contract these cylinders, and liuid is withdrawn from the lower ends of these cylinders.

The pump supplies fluid under pressure to pressure chambers 88 and 90 `through the connections 46 and 48 and openings 50.and 52, and draws uid from suction chambers 92 and 94 through openings 62 and 64 and connections 58 and 60. The opening 82 is connected by a tube..96 to a tube 98 through a fitting 100, and the tube 98 is connected to openings 102 in the. lower ends 104 of lower cylinders 106 of the cylinders 16 and 18, whereby upon rotation of the core 70 in a clockwisel direction fluid passes from the pressure chamber 8810 the lower ends of the cylinders 16 and 18.

The opening 84, which is positioned opposite to the opening 82, is connect-ed by a tube 108 to a tube 110 through a fitting 112, and the ends of the tube 110 are connected to the upper ends 114 of upper cylinders 116 of the cylinders 12 and 14, whereby the cylinders 12 and 14 are contracted as the cylinders 16 and 18 are extended.

The cylinders are similar and the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts of each. The upper ends 114 of the upper cylinders 116 are provided with openings. 118 to which the supply and returnftubes are connected, and, as shown vin Figure 8,l a tube1120 extends from the opening 118 downwardly through a head 122 having a packing ring 124 therein into the cylinder 106 in the upper end of which the head is positioned; and the llower end of the tube 1,20A is provided with a piston 126. The piston is provided with. a cavity The suction connection S6 is also divided.

128 which opens into an area 130 between the piston and head 122 throughopenings-132,.and thelower `side of the piston is provided with minute orifices 134 which permit uid to bleed through the piston so that the cylinders provide shock absorbers. The piston is also provided with a packing ring 136. The tube is stationary with the upper cylinder and the upper cylinder is fixedly mounted on the chassis of the vehicle with a stud V138 that isV threaded in the upper end. A similar stud 140 is provided inthe lower end of the lowercylinder, and the lowercylinder. is adapted to. be; connected by the stud to an axle or the like.

The opening 80isconnected-by a tubeI 142 to a tube 144 through a fittingm146 and theeuds Yof the tube 144 are connected to the lower ends of the cylinders 12 and 14. The opening 86 is connected by a tube 148 to a tube through a tt-ing 152 and the ends of the tube 150 are connected tothe upper ends of the cylinders 16 and 18.

The shaft 68 and coreI 70- are rotated by the a-rm-r 72, the upper end of-whichi is positioned between-'electromagnets 154- and 156, and the movement of #the varm 72 is controlledV by a V-shaped traveler 158 which isac tuated by an arm intheI velocity compensator 32, and which isretained in position by tracksv or guidesV 162 and 164, as shown in' Figure-2. The tracks are Aprovided with slots 166 and 168v into which the ends' of arms of the traveler extend, and the lower cndof -the arm 72 is V-shaped tocorrespondwith the upperv surface vof the traveler. The upper end ofthe arm 72 carries ablock 170 of material having magnetic attraction, and the block 170v is positioned to' beinfiuenced bypoles- 172 and 174of the electro-magnets 154A and 156, respectively.

The traveler 158--is connected to the arm 160in the velocity compensator with a wire 176, such as choke wire, and the wire 176 is covered withl a braided sheath or tube 178. Thewire is connected tothe traveler with a swivelcoupling 180 andthe traveler is urged upwardly against the lower end ofthe arm 72 by a spring 182.

The position of the traveler 158 is influenced directly by the speed-of the vehicle through the wire-1v76.and the arm 160 in they governorportion of the velocity compensator, and the movement of the arm 160 isalso influenced by the radius of the turn the. vehicle is. negotiating through a spring 184, a lever 186 and a wire 188, also similar to choke wire, and which is connectedl to the radius rod arm 190 onthe lower endof the steeringv wheel post 192 ofthe vehicle. .The arm 1.90 also. actuates toggle switches 194 and 196 whichcontrol.- circuits to the electro-magnets 154 and 156, wherebya pull'is not exerted on the upper end of the arm-72 until Ythe vehicle starts to turn.

TheY velocity compensator 32 includes-governorelements comprising a shaftV 200 rotatably mounted inibearings 202- andy 204 in the housing, and 'the'. rear end of the shaft, which extends from thehousing, isprovided with a toothed wheel 206 that is positioned to. engage a flywheel 208 of the engine of thefvehicle. A collar 210, which is keyed to the shaft, yis provided .with ears212 in which weight arms 214-are pivotally mountedwith pins 216. The inner surfaces of the arms 214 are pro-l vided with-fingers 218 that are positioned.- toengage a collar 2200i a' sleeve 222 which is Islidablyv mounted on the shaft, and a collar 224 on the opposite end-of the sleeve is adapted to engage the arm.160.which yis pivotally mounted in the housing byapin 226. Oneicnd ofthe arm 160 extends through a slot 228 in the housing and theextended endl-is provided with au `eye 230 through which the wire'176 -is connected toy thear-m. vr"I`he.opposite end of the arm is provided with an eye232'througl1 which the spring 184 is connected to the arm,.and1the opposite end ofthe springis connected tcnaneye'234in the end of the lever-` 186. The lever is pivotally lmounted inthe housing with a pin 236 and it will be noted'that 'epesses mitted to the controlling V-shaped traveler 158.

The end of the wire 188 opposite to the end connected to the lever 186 is connected by a clamp 240, similar to a hose clamp and having a bolt 242 extended through anges 244, to the arm 190, and, to' permit the Wire to follow the arm 190, the end of the sheath through which the wire extends is secured in a pivotally mounted clamp 246. The Vclamp 246 is mounted by a bolt 248 in a mounting plate 250 that is secured to the end of the gear housing 252, at the lower end of the steering wheel post, by

bolts 254. The bolt 248 is provided with nuts 256 positioned on opposite sides of the plate 250, and also with a 'nut 258 which secures the bolt in flanges 260 of the clamp 246.

The mounting plate 250 also provides supporting means for a base plate 262 on which the toggle switches 194 and 196 are mounted, and, as illustrated in Figure 7, the

'switches 194 and 196 are positioned whereby fingers 264 and 266, which extend from the switches are engaged by a stitf rubber element 268 which is secured by bolts 270 between ilanges 272 of a clamp 274 on the arm 190. The parts are adjusted whereby the fingers 264 and 266 pass over the center before snapping the switches so that slight movements of the steering wheel do not operate the device.

One terminal 276 of the switch 194 is connected by a wire 278 to a terminal 280 of the electro-magnet 154 and the other terminal 282 of the electro-magnet is connected by a wire 284 to one terminal of a battery 286, the

opposite terminal of the battery being connected by a wire 288 to the other terminal 290 of the switch. In the same mannerdone terminal 292 of the switch 196 is connected by a wire 294 to a'ter'minal 296`of the electro magnet 156 and the other terminal of the electro-magnet, which isindicated by the numeral 298 is connected by a wire 300 to one terminal of the battery. The opposite terminal of the battery is connected by a wire 302 to the other terminal 304 of the switch 196.

The wires 176 and 188 are secured to parts of the chassis of the vehicle with clamps 306 which, as illustrated in Figure 5, extend over the covering elements of the wires. Flanges 308 of the clamps are provided with openings 310 through which bolts or screws may be extended to retain the parts in position on the chassis.

With the parts assembled and incorporated in the chassis of a motor vehicle as disclosed and described it will be understood that in negotiating a. turn in a roadway turning the steering wheel, which is indicated by the numeral 312, actuates the arm 190 which closes one of the switches 194 or 196, whereby one of the solenoids 154 or 156 draws the upper end of the arm 72, as suggested in the dotted lines in Figure 2, so that the shaft 68 is turned clockwise or counter-clockwise and the valve assembly 24 admits uid under pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders on one side of the vehicle to extend the cylinders and to the upper ends of the cylinders on the opposite side to contract the cylinders. At the same time the liuid is drawn from the ends of the cylinders opposite to the ends to which the pressure is supplied. The distance the arm 72 moves depends upon the position of the traveler 158, and the position of the traveler is controlled by the speed of the vehicle in combination with the radius of the turn, the traveler being actuated by the governor arm 160 through the wire 176, and the movement of the arm 160 being controlled by the tension of the spring 184, which is adjusted by the movement of the arm 190, to which the spring is connected by the wire 188 and lever 186.

The improved vehicle banking device of this invention,

therefore, banks the vehicle in proportion to the radius of the curve and speed of ythe vehicle, and with the parts adjustable the elements are adapted to be set to bank the vehicle to any angle desired.

With the small oriices in the pistons of the cylinders the cylinders are adapted to function as shock absorbers, so that they may be positioned where conventional shock absorbers are mounted. The pump which supplies the iluid under pressure is driven by the engine of the vehicle, and the solenoids or electromagnets may be connected to the battery of the vehicle or to a suitable source of electric current.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will lind an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description is connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, and rearrangement of details and parts, such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A turn banking suspension for motor vehicles comprising telescoping hydraulic cylinders mounted at the four corners of a vehicle and positioned with the upper ends connected to the chassis of the vehicle and the lower ends connected to the axles, a pump adapted to be actuated by a moving part of the vehicle upon which the vdevice is installed, a' distributing valve, connections tributing valve, an arm carried by the shaft, solenoids at one end of the arm and positioned on opposite sides thereof, means for energizing the solenoids to influence the arm to actuate the distributing valve, a V-shaped traveler positioned to be engaged by an end of the arm, the movement of said traveler being controlled by the speed of the vehicle and radius of a turn the vehicle is negotiating whereby the movement of the arm is limited so that the arm positions the distributing valve for supplying fluid under pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders on the side of the vehicle on the outside of the turn to extend the cylinders and to the upper ends of the cylinders on the side of the vehicle on the inside of the turn to contract said cylinders as the vehicle negotiates a turn, said means drawing fluid from the ends of the cylinders opposite to the ends to which the uid under pressure is supplied.

. 2. In a motor vehicle banking device, the combination which comprises tclescoping hydraulic cylinders adapted to be positioned at the four corners of a vehicle with the upper ends connected to the chassis of the vehicle and the lower ends connected to the axles, a pump adapted to be actuated by the engine of the vehicle, means for connecting the suction and discharge of the pump to the ends of the cylinders, a valve assembly in the means for connecting the pump to the cylinders, an arm having a V-shaped lower end carried by the valve assembly, a V-shaped traveler positioned to coact with the lower end of the arm, a governor controlled by the speed of a vehicle and the radius of a turn the vehicle is negotiating for actuating the traveler to adjust the valve assembly to supply uid to one of the ends of the cylinders and withdraw tiuid from the opposite ends of the cylinders whereby the cylinders on the side of the vehicle on the outside of the turn are extended and the cylinders on the -side `of,,the vehicle on -the inside of the :turn are 4con- -t-racted.

u ,-3. In a-motorvehicle-banking-device, thescombination which comprises telescoping 'hydraulic cylinders adapted .to `lne-,positioned -at-the-four corner-s of a vehicle with the 'connecting-the. pump to-thecyIinderS, a solenoid actuated control for said valve assembly an arm-carried by the v alve assembly, a V-shaped Ytravelerinto which oneend of the arm-extends, va vgovernor for controlling the posi- .Ttion-,of-the-traveler in--relation1to-the speed of the vehicle,

meanssfor controlling :the :operation of -the r governor in relation to Ythe -radius .of ha vturn made by the vehicle whereby-the'valve assembly'isactuated-,so that fluid under apressureis supplied -to the-lower ends 'of the cylinders on the side of a-vehicle :onthe outside-cfa turn to extend .said cylinders and -to the upper endsof cylinders onthe side-of the vehicle -on-the inside'of -the turn to contract said cylinders as the vehicle negotiates a turn, and

-switches actuated by an -arm onithesteering wheel post of the vehicle forclosing circuits to the solenoids depending-upon the-direction of turn, said arm, traveler, -andgovernor-providing a velocity compensator whereby tluidis-supplied to the cylinders in proportion to the ,speedfof the vehicle.

4. In-a motor vehicle-banking device-the combination which comprises telescoping hydraulic cylinders adapted to-be-mounted-at the four corners of -a'vehicle and positioned withthe upper :endssconnected -to `the chassiscf ythe vehicle andf-the-lower ends connected to -axles .of -the wheels -ofv the vehicle,- a pump vadapted :to -be mounted .on

va chassis-oa vehicle and adapted to be actuated by the `enginefoffthe vehicle, tubes connecting the .suction-and vdischarge of the .-pumptol-upper-and -lower ends -of the --cylinders, avalve `assemblythrough which-the tubes are connected, avalve.-actuatorlpositioned-on one-'endof the valve `assembly, :an arm positioned in -the valve actuator -and operatively `connected to-the valve assembly, sole- CII fnoids vrin Ysaid actuator -for --moving said arm, nswitches adaptedftofbe. closed by'an arm actuated bythe-steering `wheel offthevehicle-for closing circuits tothe solenoids.- in :accordancewith the direction of Vturn of the fvehicle, a governor-adapted to be mounted on theV chassis -and adapted to be-rotated by -a rotating part of the vehicle, a traveler-ipositioned in the valve'actuator-and adapted :to--controlthe movement of said arm therein, means-for actuatinggthe traveler by the governor, and-meanstalso actuated by the arm of the steering wheel for controlling -themovement of the governor.

V5.In a motor vehicle banking device, xt he combination which comprises -telescoping -hydraulic cylinders adapted to be-mounted at the -four corners-of a vehicle with the upper-ends connected to the :chassis and -thelower ends -connected to axlesof the wheels, a pump ladapted to -be mounted on the--chassis-of thevehicle and actuated by thefengine thereof, tubes connecting the -suction -and dschar-ge of the .-pump to upper and -lower ends -of `the cylinders, pistons having orifices therein positioned in -the Acylinders between the connections of the tubes thereto 'whereby-the ycylinders function vas shock absorbers, a valve rassembly zadapted -to be -mounted on the chassis -and..through which -said tubes are connected, a valve .actuator positioned on one -end of the valve assembly, solenoids-in' thevalve-actuator and positioned to-operate -saidl actuator toadjust the valve-element of the valve .-asrsembly, -means rvfor completing circuits to the solenoids -,-upon rotation of the steering wheel -of the vehicle, -a lvelocity compensator mounted in -the chassis for controlling the valve actuator, resilient means =for-urgingthe -valvecompensator,intoengagement with-the valve actua- =tor, said -valve compensator .limiting movement Aof the valve-actuated -a --governor for-f-adjusting-the :position of the 4valve-compensator;-and means actuated -by a vturning .-movement -of- ,the t steering -wheel of the vehicle for -controlling ther-movementof the, velocity compensator.

`References:'Cited inthe tilefof this patent yFOREIGN PATENTS 521,741 GreatBritai'n ;May l30,"194'0 

